Population distribution in Brazil

The North: Has a low population density in the Amazon Basin. Along Amazon River higher population density. Main cities are Manaus and Belem. Between 1850 and 1910 the population grew six-fold as a rubber industry developed. In 1980s fears of too rapid deforestation so colonization was stopped.

North east: 30% of Brazilian population, suffered from drought.

Once much of the population was located in rural areas. Today most people live in cities. This is called urbanization and has occurred because: agricultural land has become overcrowded due to population increase, people cannot make a living from their land, people have moved to cities to look for jobs, the North-east region has been hit by droughts, better transport systems have allowed people to move and radio stations have shown urban life and people liked what they saw.

Six different factors affect rapid growth of population:

• Birth rate: Rapid increase in Brazil's population is not because of more births as these have decreased.
• Death rate: Falling because of better sanitation, health care and medicines.
• Infant mortality: declined
• Life expectancy: Brazilians are living longer
• Immigration and emigration: Little effect